Angelina Jolie Safeguards Cambodia's Forests for Over 20 Years; Infrared Cameras Record 44 Wildlife Species

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has supported community aid and environmental conservation in Cambodia for more than 20 years. She founded the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation in 2003, initially undertaking landmine clearance, supporting local communities and protecting forests and wildlife. In 2006, the foundation expanded its work into agriculture, education, gender equality and healthcare. The foundation works with communities and government agencies to help protect the Samlout Multiple Use Area, which lies in Battambang and Pailin provinces near the Thai border. The protected area covers approximately 61,000 hectares, and the foundation says its conservation work spans more than 40,000 hectares of forest. A biodiversity survey conducted by the international conservation organisation Fauna & Flora and Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment found diverse local wildlife and plants, including birds, mammals, bats and orchids. A January 2025 report by environmental news outlet Mongabay said researchers recorded 44 wild animal species using camera traps: 28 mammals, 15 birds and one reptile. Nearly 30% were classified as threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. The protected area continues to face illegal hunting, logging and forest loss. The foundation and relevant local agencies continue conducting patrols to protect forest resources and wildlife habitats.